The Government has informed that the Indian Pilot who went missing after an Air Force fighter jet shot down a Pakistani aircraft that was targetting military installations in India, is currently in Pakistan's custody. Pakistan had claimed that the pilot is in custody and also circulated a video showing a man in uniform, blindfolded, wounded and severely bleeding.
Fighter jets of both sides engaged in direct battle, just a day after India's air strike targetting the terror camps in Balakot, indicating worst escalation of hostilities. The government had informed that Pakistan responded to its "counter-terrorism action" by using its Air Force to target Indian military installations, but the attempts were foiled. "The Pakistan Air Force was detected and the Indian Air Force responded instantly. In that aerial engagement, one Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft was shot down by a MiG 21 Bison of the Indian Air Force. The Pakistani aircraft was seen by ground forces falling from the sky on the Pakistan side. In this engagement, we have unfortunately lost one MiG 21. The pilot is missing in action. Pakistan has claimed that he is in their custody. We are ascertaining the facts", said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar while addressing the media alongside Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapur.
Erlier on Wednesday, Pakistan PM in a television address had called for a dialogue and said, "It was our plan to not cause any collateral damage, and not to cause any casualties. We simply wanted to show capability. Two Indian MiGs crossed Pakistan's Borders, and we shot them down. I want to now address India and say let sanity prevail." The Pakistani F-16 aircraft, shot down by MiG 21 Bison, crashed on its territory in the Lam Valley area.